Never Thought We Could Forget Baby Godzilla, Eh?

[anexiole]

Just for a chuckle.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/78yearol...0106-7b72.html 

 

1) the age paper is uninformed - that's a Pulsar GTI-R and not just any pulsar

2) the old guy is an idiot / hero -> depends on how you look at it.

** If people could have more sense, these are nice cars that don't need the extra bad publicity IMHO.

[WYTSKY]

linky doesnt work

[THR34T]

fail link fails

[dave1200]

I think his name is John Bellfield? Bellman? Not sure but he's a nut case. I've seen him at a few MSCA sprint days and he drives the pants off that gtir. It's got tonnes of power with a huge turbo mounted out the side because it doesn't fit in between the radiater and engine.

He made the news a few years ago when he was trying to sell his army tank collection to the government for museums but they wouldn't give him enough cash so he ended up selling them to overseas buyers.

[madbung]

He's 78, has a pony tail and looks like the leader of some strange cult.

What else is there to say.

Oh he was on tv recently..one of the local car-lifestyle shows, nice tanks.

[Starionturbo]

well he made headlines today hahaha.

Ive seen him at NDSOC days and at sprints - hes not a bad steerer!!!

I think whoevers got hold of this story has blown it out of proportion - poor guy.

[RBPOWA-(TJ)]

there has got to be pics of this car some were ..... side mounted turbo ... gotta see that

[iamhe77]

Sooooo, basically a 78yo skilled driver was traveling at 170kms on a winding road?

Damn man! There must have been death everywhere!!

Speed does kill after all.... or does it?

Maybe it has more to do with driver skills no?

I love how angry Brumby is, guess there will be permanent speed cameras mounted there too since it is such a "dangerous" stretch of road?

[RBPOWA-(TJ)]

everyone is talking about brumby, call me stupid ...........

but i dont get into the whole politics, why is brumby so angry ?

[FrangaR33]

I doubt he would of made it all the way to 78 being a shitty driver

[Z1LLA]

Probably shouldn't comment on here, but... John is an awesome driver. Known him for a while through the NDSOC and MSCA track days. If I'm half as quick as him at that age I would be rapt.

[Russman]

What road was it on? I reckon it's cool that the old guy is having fun with his car. As long as he doesn't risk other people's safety. I hope I'm still a thrill seeker when I'm his age.

Still... probably better to do it on the track.

[htial]

It doesn't mater if he's a skilled driver or not... ...He was way over the limit on a public road...

And in saying that... ...Being such a skilled driver... ...He should know better than that...

[blind_elk]

I know John reasonably well. There are few people even half his age who can drive a car fast as well as John can. I'm not condoning what he did - it was stupid. But why all the hoo-ha over this? In Lorne a few days ago, "a 62 year old man" - not "Fred Jones, a 62 year old man" - at a speed nowhere near 170kph, managed to:

not negotiate a corner

mount the footpath

drive through a group of pedestrians

drive over an embankment

and park his car on top of 2 others.

He caused injuries to several people, including 2 small children who had to be air-lifted to Childrens Hospital.

Where's the public / media outcry? Where's the comments from Brumby and Nixon on the intelligence or otherwise of the "62 year old man"?

This "62 year old man" has changed the lives of dozens of people. But it seems that this is acceptable - it seems that everyone's attitude amounts to "oh well, s**t happens".

John Belfield didn't hurt anyone - he simply got caught being stupid.

[FATAZZ]

I seen that car mount the other 2 cars on the news last night.

I remember cause they said the dude was from Castle Hill.

[iamhe77]

I know John reasonably well. There are few people even half his age who can drive a car fast as well as John can. I'm not condoning what he did - it was stupid. But why all the hoo-ha over this? In Lorne a few days ago, "a 62 year old man" - not "Fred Jones, a 62 year old man" - at a speed nowhere near 170kph, managed to:

not negotiate a corner

mount the footpath

drive through a group of pedestrians

drive over an embankment

and park his car on top of 2 others.

He caused injuries to several people, including 2 small children who had to be air-lifted to Childrens Hospital.

Where's the public / media outcry? Where's the comments from Brumby and Nixon on the intelligence or otherwise of the "62 year old man"?

This "62 year old man" has changed the lives of dozens of people. But it seems that this is acceptable - it seems that everyone's attitude amounts to "oh well, s**t happens".

John Belfield didn't hurt anyone - he simply got caught being stupid.

Yeah, I saw that story last night when I dropped by my parent's place.

He was estimated to be driving at 30-40kph.

I ask again.... Does speed really kill? or is it more to do with Driver skill?

Brandy Creek Rd was where john and the other dude were caught.

working link here: http://www.theage.com.au/national/cops-tak...90106-7amr.html

Check it out on Google Maps. He was north or Warragul, not near the estates.

Incidentally, if you follow that road onto the Warragul-Kooroomburra Rd, you will find one of the more enjoyable roads to drive in VIC

(not on a rainy day though)

Another question;

If John Belfield was 25 years old, in a modified import (GTi-R) and doing 170kph in a 110 zone. Would he have been given his car back for $600?

Edited January 7, 2009 by iamhe77

[joeyjoejoejuniorshabadoo]

I ask again.... Does speed really kill? or is it more to do with Driver skill?

yeah... the faster your going the harder you hit.. full stop

[blind_elk]

yeah... the faster your going the harder you hit.. full stop

But first you have to actually hit something!

[Phatboy]

There must have been a lot of cops on NY for some to be camped out on such a back road.

Or maybe they had an insider in the club and knew the route?

[AGE]

I ask again.... Does speed really kill? or is it more to do with Driver skill?

See i don't think that speed kills. It's more of a advertising campaign aimed at the general populous. Most Muppet's can't handle a car, let alone a car at speed. There are a few out there that can control speed... but it's to hard to tell who!

So the cops/government just save themselves the time and money..... and just scare the entire population into worrying about speed. Easy

Also old people driving cars should have a "O" plate displayed!!! I give it 2-5 years, before scary old dudes in beige Camry's get "O" plates to protect the public.

I don't know which to be more scared of.... a Beige Camry with "O" plates or a "P" plater in a Fully sick VL (either way they should both be banned!)